Harry V. Barton

Born at Westover Plantation in West Baton Rouge Parish on February 4, 1920, he died at his home in Baton Rouge on Sunday, April 27, 2014.

He was graduated from Port Allen High School, and went on to attend Louisiana State University. He served his country during WWII in the United States Navy, spending 18 months in the Pacific Theater. Upon returning from military service, he married his wife of the next 67 years, Billie Burden. Also, upon his return, he continued his studies at LSU, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, ultimately receiving his law degree. He was an avid tennis player and was a founding member of the Bocage Racquet Club. In October, 2013, the Bocage Racquet Club renamed its ongoing "Senior Invitational" tournament "The Harry V. Barton Bocage Clay Court Invitational" in his honor. He was elected to the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994. Harry was a lawyer, insurance agent, and business broker by trade, and was a recovering alcoholic who enjoyed 38 years of sobriety. Harry also served the Baton Rouge community as chairman of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for East Baton Rouge Parish. Of all his lifetime achievements, his last will go down in history because he is now known as the man who "Saved A Life A Day" for twenty years. He has been a member of First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge for 82 years. He is survived by his children: Dana Barton, Sara Barton Morris and husband Harry, and Harry V. Barton, Jr. and wife Estelle. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Katherine Brooks, William Barton Platte, Michael Eugene Platte and wife Anne and their child A.J., Harry Marcel Barton, and Hab Matthew Barton and wife Stacy. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Billie Burden Barton; his parents, Percy B. Barton and Grace Walton Barton; his sister, Edith Barton Mathies; and his brother, John W. Barton, Sr. Visitation will be on Friday, May 2, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church from 10AM until Memorial Service at 12pm. Burial will be private at Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to either Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or to First Presbyterian Church, 763 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.